LCJE Bulletin Issue 115, February-March 2014 Networking Jewish Evangelism LCJELausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism Networking Jewish Evangelism From the Coordinator This issue includes the 2013 annual reports from our LCJE Area Coordinators from around the world, as well as a great deal of infor- LCJELausanne Consultation mation about upcoming events during 2014. on Jewish Evangelism *** SAVE THE DATES! *** Our 10th LCJE International LCJE Bulletin Conference is now set for Israel from 16-21 August 2015. Issue No. 115 February-March 2014 Despite the current upheavals in Ukraine, we are still planning, God willing, to hold this year’s LCJE European Regional Conference in © Lausanne Consultation on Kiev, starting on April 28, 2014. Please pray for all the decisions Jewish Evangelism and issues to be worked out for this conference. Pray especially for our Europe Area Coordinator, Jean-Paul Rempp, and our Ukrainian Editor: Jim Melnick hosts, who have all worked very hard, despite the current difficul- Design: Chris Skjøtt ties in Ukraine, to try to make this a successful conference. The conference theme is: “Jesus, Still Today a Light to His People in a Printed by: Wave Printing & Post-Shoah Era.” Graphics, Fredericksburg, VA USA Speaking of successful conferences, we just completed the 2014 LCJE North American conference, held in Wheaton, Illinois, near Published February, May, Chicago, under North American Coordinator Gary Hedrick’s wonder- August, and November ful leadership, along with his fine staff. The conference theme was: “The New Testament’s Use of the Old Testament (OT): How are the Address: P.O. Box 5501 OT Passages Messianic?” Despite the bitter cold temperatures, the Falmouth, VA 22403 USA conference was very well attended, including an invitation extend- ed to the Wheaton College student body. The Billy Graham Center Individual membership US $25 hosts were very gracious and welcoming to LCJE. annually; subscription US $15 payable to ‘LCJE’ Charles Klingensmith’s devotional for this issue focuses on the in- credible story of Soviet Jewish concert pianist and Russian Orthodox Payment: By check or bank Christian Maria Yudina and her courageous letter to Soviet dictator wire transfer; see www.LCJE.net Josef Stalin. Yudina’s faith and bravery - putting her life on the line (under “Contact”) by what she put in that letter, reminds us a little of Queen Esther and the story of Purim. Her example can inspire us to continue to CONTENTS pray for and appeal to earthly leaders and authorities, no matter 2 From the Coordinator how wicked or indifferent they may be, that perhaps God will turn 3 Devotional: Faith & Courage the heart of a king (Proverbs 21:1) 4 Annual Report - Japan 4 Annual Report - Israel The new LCJE Search Engine at LCJE.net is now available for use on- 5 Annual Report - AustralAsia line. It is about three times more powerful than the previous search engine - thanks to the code and assistance provided by Aaron Trank 7 Annual Report - Latin America of Jews for Jesus. Please avail yourself of this wonderful research 8 Annual Report - North America tool and check out the range of papers and materials available for 10 Annual Report - Europe your areas of interest and ministry. See the article on pages 19-20 10 - Belarus, Bulgaria, Denmark for more information. We have this great treasure of resources on 11 - England Jewish evangelism at our disposal today thanks primarily to one 12 - Europe & former FSU person - Kai Kjær-Hansen, who, over a period of some twenty years, 13 - Finland, France, Germany organized and cajoled conference presenters to get their papers com- 14 - Norway pleted and turned in! We also thank Kai and Karsten Mumm for their 15 - Sweden faithful service all these years in handling the LCJE International Ac- 16 - Romania, Switzerland count in Denmark, which was closed in 2013. Information on that and 17 Annual Report - South Africa last year’s overall LCJE Financial Statement are found on pages 21-22. 19 New LCJE Search Engine 21 LCJE Financial Statement In our sure hope for the coming salvation of Israel. Jim Melnick 23 Upcoming LCJE Meetings Isaiah 45:17: “Israel shall be saved by an everlasting salvation...” [email protected] Front cover photo: The memorial menorah at Babiy Yar, Kiev, Ukraine. 2 Photo by Jim Melnick (from Russian Messianic Leaders conference, 2012) Faith and Courage in the Face of a Dictator By Charles Klingensmith, LCJE Japan A Jewish Believer in Jesus Yudina was in fact a Jewish be- liever in Jesus. She was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church in 1919, after the revolution, hardly a propitious time to identify either with the enemies of the revolu- tion, or in a land of pogroms, to identify with the persecutors of her Jewish people. If you read on in Testimony you learn that, to the annoyance of many, she was considered an eccentric, and Maria Yudina Charles Klingensmith dangerously dubious, for she was An Amazing Recording constantly sharing her faith, and Recently I spent time with a the broadcasters and asked that testifying to prayer. CD box set, some 16 CDs, by a record of what he had heard be From our Messianic perspective, the Soviet-era Russian Jewish sent to him. That’s why the or- what can we say about this Jewish pianist Maria Yudina (1899- chestra had suddenly to be called woman baptized years ago into 1970). To my ears, it included back, in sheer terror, to produce the Russian Orthodox Church? unparalleled Bach, insightful one copy of the music which had Perhaps this, that she believed in Beethoven, and compelling so moved this man. Messiah just where she met Him, Schubert and Brahms. and made the most of that meet- And Mozart too: one record- Yudina’s Prayer for a Dictator ing, and was faithful to Him who ing especially I could not but be Later, according to Testimony: was faithful to her. And is this not drawn into, was her recording The Memoirs of Dmitri Shosta- how we too want to live? from 1943 of Mozart Piano Con- kovich, Yudina received a mon- certo No. 23. It seems it was a etary gift sent in thanks on Sta- Reference struggle it seems to make the lin’s orders. She in turn wrote Volkov, Solomon. Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich. As recording; it was made in the a letter to Stalin, and famous related to and edited by Solomon middle of the night with a hast- composer Dmitri Shostakovich later heard of the contents from Volkov. Translated from the Rus- ily assembled orchestra, and it sian by Antonia W. Bouis, New York: took three conductors to finish Yudina. He summarized her com- ments as follows: “Yudina wrote Limelight Editions, 1989, page 194. the work. The first had to be sent home in nervous prostra- something like this in her letter: ‘I thank you, Iosif Vissirionovich, Charles Klingensmith tion; the second couldn’t think [email protected] straight. Only the third con- for your aid. I will pray for you ductor completed the assign- night and day and ask the Lord to forgive your great sins before Editor’s Note: See also the YouTube ment. But Yudina was at peace video about Maria Yudina by Michael the people and the country. The through it all. Odnoralov at: www.youtube.com/ Lord is merciful and He’ll for- watch?v=NtmaRxkwXV4 The Connection to Stalin give you. I gave the money to “Maria Yudina: The Pianist Who This recording is one that we the church that I attend.” Yudina Moved Stalin by Michael Odnoralov.” were never intended to hear. sent this suicidal letter to Stalin. It has also been claimed that when It was made in response to a He read it and didn’t say a word; Stalin died on March 5, 1953, that request by one of many listen- they expected at least a twitch of “[s]pinning on his record player was Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, per- ers the day before to a radio the eyebrow. Naturally, the order to arrest Yudina was prepared formed by Maria Yudina.” (“Stalin’s broadcast of that piano concer- Favorite Pianist,” The Austin Chron- to. That listener was Josef Sta- and the slightest grimace would have been enough to wipe away icle, Feb. 13, 2004. lin. It was a live broadcast, and www.austinchronicle.com/mu- the last traces of her. But Stalin there was no recording! But sic/2004-02-13/196899/). he was not aware of that, and was silent and set the letter aside Stalin, deeply moved, called in silence.” (Volkov, page 194) 3 Annual Report 2013 - LCJE Japan By Charles Klingensmith, Chapter President, LCJE Japan Praying for You prayer meetings for Jewish evan- 2014 to mark our 20th anniver- Shalom and blessings from Ja- gelism in both east and west Ja- sary, we are planning the visit of pan in the Name of Messiah to pan, Tokyo and Osaka. The num- our LCJE International Coordina- all co-workers in the worldwide ber of intercessors for your work tor, Jim Melnick. Jim’s visit will in- LCJE network! We are always is not especially large, but God clude talks in Tokyo and Osaka, grateful to all of you for all that is faithful as we pray, and mem- with guest spots in local churches you do for His Jewish people in bers gladly travel several hours as well. We have also been able your many frontline evangelistic one way in packed trains to call to publish over 170 consecutive activities. We who are deep be- down the Lord’s blessing on your monthly editions of our Japa- hind the lines pray for you and endeavors.